THE NUMBER of transit passengers have more than doubled compared to the first two months last year. Official statistics reveal that while the number of holidaymakers visiting Seychelles during the first two months of 2008 was only 1% above the 2007 level and those combining business with a holiday rose by 16%, the number in transit was 134% more.
It is believed that a fair share is Mauritius-bound passengers embarking in London on the twice weekly Air Seychelles flights, arriving here on Monday and Tuesday.
It is not unusual for flights from London to disembark an equal number of passengers here to those in transit and catching the same plane an hour later for Mauritius.
A good number of the Mauritians apparently also avail of the opportunity to holiday in Seychelles for a few days and are hence counted as tourists. They stay mostly with relatives and acquaintances within the growing Mauritian community here and rarely at the licensed establishments.
Year to date, there were 689 Mauritian visitors, compared to just 440 from Reunion. Those from Reunion arrive on the Air Austral service arriving here during the weekend.